Today’s post comes from Molly Brown, an ILN Content Officer and a User Experience Librarian: Welcome to my workspace! As part of the User Experience group at Milne Library, I share an office with two wonderful librarians and three great student workers. Our office is a dynamic place and is constantly full of faculty, students and staff who come for assistance, to grab chocolate (because we always have that on hand) or to simply visit.

I use two monitors and I’m fortunate enough to have an iMac as my computer, which I adore (though our IT department doesn’t always like me when we have campus-wide updates, as most of the computers here are PCs). On my desk you will always find:

My two favorite photos: one of child soldiers in Darfur and the other of my boyfriend mountain biking in Moab, Utah.

My University of Michigan glass that holds all my favorite pens.

Diet Coke (the one on my desk today was an extra-large version today)

Folders of work for the day ahead – I try not to have too much clutter on my desk, because I think a clean desk allows for a clear mind (that’s how my brain works most efficiently).

The ubiquitous post-it notes to remind me of things I would otherwise forget.

And Burt’s Bees lip balm!

I’ve also included the bulletin board on the wall behind my desk. On it is a collection of photographs and inspirational messages that travel with me to whatever new job or office I find myself in. The photographs remind me of the wonderful places I’ve been in the world and the poems and quotes rejuvenate me and keep me going when my 8-hour days turn into 12+ hour days. I love my little nook of the library world. Welcome to it!